BIMP-EAGA Welcomes 2025 Vision For Economically Competitive Region

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Ministers from the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) have welcomed the 'BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025' formulation to develop a resilient, inclusive, sustainable and economically competitive sub-region. Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar (left) said this would serve as the successor document to the Implementation Blueprint 2012-2016 that would support and complement the 'ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together' roadmap. He said the ministers also endorsed the guiding framework for BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 and called upon all BIMP-EAGA stakeholders especially the private sector and local governments to take advantage of this opportunity. "(This is) to bring views, inputs, and projects that will generate economic growth and development in the sub-region," he told reporters after chairing the 19th BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meetings and Related Meetings here, Thursday. Also present were Brunei's Minister at the Prime Minister's Department Pehin Datuk Lim Jock Seng, who is also Foreign and Trade II Minister; Philippine's Mindanao Development Authority, Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino; Indonesia's Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr Rizal Affandi Lukman; and ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Dr. AKP Mochtan. Abdul Wahid said the ministers had directed their senior officials to finalise the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 in time for the 12th BIMP-EAGA Summit which will be held in the Philippines. In a related development, Abdul Wahid said the BIMP-EAGA continued to recognise that improvement in connectivity was vital for the seamless movement of goods and people from the EAGA and for its integration into ASEAN and the rest of the world. They also welcomed the decision of the Transport Ministers to sign ad referendum the protocol to amend the memorandum of understanding on the Expansion of Air Linkages. He said the ministers were pleased with the completion of the West Kalimantan and Sarawak Power Interconnection project which is scheduled for full operation next year. They also take note of the on-going study on the Investment Profiling in BIMP-EAGA Economic Corridors, which would identify investment opportunities and provide information to potential investors in the sub-region. He said the ministers reiterated the need for greater synergies between the transport and tourism sectors to enhance the development of tourism destinations. They also urged the BIMP-EAGA Business Council to be more proactive in attracting private sector individuals, groups and industry associations to invest and support initiatives in BIMP-EAGA. At the same event, Abdul Wahid said they also conducted the second BIMP-EAGA and Northern Territory Ministerial Meeting and hoped it would pave greater collaboration and relation between BIMP-EAGA and Australia's Northern Territory. Also present was Minister for Asian Engagement and Trade, Northern Territory Government, Peter Styles (right). (photoBERNAMA) --BERNAMA